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(No Model.)

`ALP. BICKMORE'.

` SELF LEYBLING BERTH. No. 276,341. A Patented Apr. 24,1883."

Nf PETERS. Pnnwmlwww. wmnglm. n. c.

AUNITED j STATES,

PATENT Ormes.' i

ALBION P. BioKMonn, on HYDE PARK, MAssAoHUsErTs, Assicnon on oNnHALF To EDWARD D. PENDLETON, on SAME PLAGE.

SELF-LEVELING BERTI-l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,341, dated April 24, 1833.

Application tiled May 3, 1882. Renewed March 5, 1883. (No model.)

` To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBION P. BICKMORE, of Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self Leveling Berths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in swinging or self-levelin g berths, intended especiaflly for use on steam and sailin g vessels.

In an application tiled by me inthe Patent Office January 24, 1882, 1 described an improved construction ot' single swinging berth suspended from a .frame by a peculiar universal joint and anti-friction bearing.

My present invention is applicable to double or upper and lower berths; and its objectis to' provide an upper and lower berth suspended from a common support, so as to have a simultaneous movement in one direction, with supporting-frame, and a separate movement laterally independent of the frame, one of the berths being placed above and one below the common point of support and balanced in that position. j

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement ot the devices necessary to carry outthis object, and, further, in a peculiar canopy or curtain for shutting oft the berths from observation, either together or'separately.

nIn the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective of the interior ot' a state-room containing an upper and lower berth constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the universal joint; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on line a: Fig. 4, a view representing the curtain or canopy. 1n these drawings, A represents a bracket rmly screwed to the side ot' the state-room, and projecting therefrom at right angles. To this bracket is rigidly attached the upperchamher or socket, B, of the universal joint, which is constructed as described in my former application. The chamber is rounded internally, and at the bottom has an annular groove adapted to contain a row of anti-friction balls, as shown. Loose within this case is a segment of a sphere, Bf, to which is attached a rod, the

lower curved surface ot' the segment bearing on the balls, and the rod projecting out through an opening in the bottom of the chamber B. This opening may be of any size in order to permit free movement ot' the segment within the case,and to prevent tbe possibility ot'cramp lng. Y

Suspended from the chamber and biacket described, by means of the connecting-rod 2, is a precisely similar socket or chamber, D, having a corresponding annular groove and row ot' balls. This chamber is` held in reverse position by a segment, E, similar to that before described, attached to the rod 2, so that either arotary oroscillatory motion will be permitted the chamber. The chamber D has a plane or iiat lower surface, and to this is rigidly secured the frame to which the swinging berths are attached. This frame is represented at "F, and consists ot' a plate, 4, secured to the chamber D, a pair ot' upwardly-bent arms, 5 6, a similar pair, 7 8, extending downward, and suitable braces, as at 9,to give additional strength. The ends ot' the arms 5 6 are hooked, as shown, and from these hooks is suspended the upper berth, G, by a pair of eyes. This permits a free lateral swing to the berth. The lower berth is suspended from hooks 1l 12 on the arms 7 8belowV the joint. Elastic cords 13 14 may be provided, it desired, for steadying the berth.

It w'ill be observed that both berths are suspended from a common intermediate point by a com mon frame or support, and that by virtue bf their position they balance one another, while they are permitted a universal movement by thejoint. This is the distinguishing feature of my invention.

The second part ot' my invention relates to a canopy or curtain for enveloping the berths and preventing the occupants from observing the movement of the state-room. A frame composed of light metallic rods '.20 2l is sccured to the upper ends of arms 5 6, and these rods are bent outwardly, so that the canopy may han g vertically and clear the upper berth. VA horizontal rod, 22, connects the arms 5 6 near their lower end. The canopy is secured to the rear side ot' the lower berth at points marked x m, and'is supported on the frame so ll 2. A supporting-frame having upwardly and as to hang down in front, it being divided in front, so as to permit it to be withdrawn toward each side. The lower curtain slides on rings on the rod 22, and is centrally divided.

In my former application my invention was described as applicable to swinging pens for transmitting stock and a construction of single swinging pen was described and shown therein. The present invention is equally applicable to stockpens as to berths with slight inodications, an upper and lower pen being hung fromasingle universally-jointed support, and arranged so as to counter-balance one another.

Having thus described my in\'ention,what-I claim isl. The combination, with a xed bracket and a universally jointed support carried thereby, of a suspended frame carrying an upper and a lower berth, said bracket'being between the said upper and lower berths, sub` stantially as described.

downwardly projecting arms, a berth pivoted z5 upon the upper arms, and a second berth pivoted upon the lower arms, and a bracket interme-v diate between said berthsiixed to suitable support, and suitable flexible connections between the frame carrying` the arms and said bracket, 3o substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the cases or sockets containing the connected spherical segments and the ball-bearings, of the frame attached to thelower socket, and composed of up- 3 5 wardly-elevated arms 5 6, supporting a swinging upper berth, and downwardly-projecting arms 7 8, supporting a similar lower berth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 4o scribing witnesses. l

ALBION P. B ICKMORE.

Witnesses HENRY S. BUNTON, W. F. CURTIS. 

